Taiwan imported $1.3 billion worth of Russian naphtha in the first half of 2025, according to a report from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The purchases, totaling 1.9 million tonnes, made Russia Taiwan’s largest supplier of the vital petrochemical feedstock.
The report noted Taiwan has spent $4.9 billion on Russian naphtha since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, despite Taipei joining Western-led sanctions and export controls.
Critics warn the dependence exposes Taiwan to potential supply disruptions from Russia’s ally, China.
Despite backing Ukraine, U.S. ally Taiwan has imported $1.3B of Russian naphtha in 2025, fueling concerns over a silent energy trade with Moscow amid the ongoing war
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) October 1, 2025
Link: https://t.co/OqYcu5snE7 pic.twitter.com/zTnldV3Pkf
Formosa Petrochemical accounted for nearly all imports, with one refinery sourcing 90% of its feedstock from Russia. The company defended its procurement, saying it complies with sanctions.
Investigation exposes Taiwan as the world’s largest importer of Russian naphtha, which is then refined and sold to the West
— The Insider (@InsiderEng) October 1, 2025
72% of the naphtha supplied to Taiwan comes from Novatek, a Russian company under U.S. sanctions for financing the war in Ukraine.https://t.co/Dh2spejnLW
Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party legislators called the imports a threat to national security.
President Donald Trump has stepped up pressure on countries buying Russian energy, recently imposing secondary tariffs on India.
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TIPP Staff
